Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating a scanning process to obtain information about available WLANs operating within range. Scanning information already obtained by one or more wireless communications devices may be shared with another wireless communications device, thereby reducing the time spent by performing scans by other wireless communications device. As desired, shared scanning information may be used preferentially depending on one or more metrics characterizing the information, such as the age of the scanning information or the relative distance to the sharing wireless communications device.
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1. A method for sharing scanning information, the method being performed by a first wireless station (STA), comprising: broadcasting, by the first STA, a probe request on a first wireless channel to scan the first wireless channel for available networks; receiving, at the first STA, shared scanning information from a second STA in response to the probe request, wherein the shared scanning information includes scanning information obtained by the second STA when scanning for wireless networks managed by one or more access points (AP)s and a first metric indicating a time at which the scanning information was obtained by the second STA; and associating the first STA with a first AP of the one or more APs based at least in part on the shared scanning information received from the second STA.
A method for a first wireless device (STA) to optimize network scanning. The STA broadcasts a request on a wireless channel to find available networks. It then receives shared scanning information from a second STA, which includes the second STA's previously obtained scan data for wireless networks managed by access points (APs), along with a timestamp indicating when the second STA performed the scan. The first STA then connects to an AP based on this shared scanning information.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively employing the shared scanning information received from the second STA based, at least in part, on the first metric.
The method from the previous network scanning description where the first wireless device uses the timestamp to decide whether to use the shared scanning information. For example, if the timestamp shows the information is too old, the first wireless device may ignore it or give it less priority. This allows the first device to prioritize more recent, potentially more accurate information.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving additional shared scanning information from a third STA in response to the probe request.
The method from the initial network scanning description where the first wireless device receives scanning information from multiple other wireless devices (a second and third STA) in response to its initial request. This allows the first wireless device to aggregate information from multiple sources to improve its network selection.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the additional shared scanning information includes a second metric determined by the third STA, the method further comprising: selectively employing the shared scanning information received from the second STA and the additional shared scanning information received from the third STA based, at least in part, on the first metric and the second metric.
The method from the initial network scanning description where the first wireless device receives scan data from a second and third device, each with a timestamp. The first device selectively uses the shared scanning information from the second and third device based on their respective timestamps. It uses the metrics to determine the most relevant and up-to-date data to use.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a third metric indicating respective distances between the second STA and each of the one or more APs.
The method from the initial network scanning description where the first wireless device also determines the distance between the second wireless device that is sharing its scanning information and the various access points the second device has detected. This provides information about the signal strength and proximity of access points relative to the sharing device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein broadcasting the probe request is a part of a scanning process that includes receiving at least one of a probe response or a beacon from an AP.
The method from the initial network scanning description where the broadcasting of the probe request is part of a larger scanning process. The scanning process also involves the first wireless device receiving either a probe response directly from an access point, or a beacon signal, which is another way for access points to announce their presence.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising terminating the scanning process based, at least in part, on at least one of the first metric or the third metric.
The method from the initial network scanning description where the first wireless device stops its own network scanning process early, based on the timestamp or the distance metric. This allows the device to save power and time if it receives sufficiently useful shared scanning information.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scanning process is terminated if at least one of the first metric meets a first threshold or the third metric meets a second threshold.
The method from the previous network scanning description where the first wireless device stops the scan if the timestamp from the second device is below a certain threshold (meaning the information is fresh enough) OR if the distance metric indicates that the second device is close enough to a desired access point. This fine-tunes the conditions for early scan termination.
9. A wireless station (STA) comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the STA to: broadcast a probe request on a first wireless channel to scan the first wireless channel for available networks; receive shared scanning information from another STA in response to the probe request, wherein the shared scanning information includes scanning information obtained by the other STA when scanning for wireless networks managed by one or more access points (AP)s and a first metric indicating a time at which the scanning information was obtained by the other STA; and associate with a first AP of the one or more APs based at least in part on the shared scanning information received from the other STA.
A wireless device (STA) that optimizes network scanning by broadcasting a request to find available networks. Upon receiving shared scanning information from another STA (containing previously obtained scan data for access points (APs) and a timestamp), it connects to an AP based on this shared information.
10. The STA of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the STA to selectively employ the shared scanning information received from the other STA based, at least in part, on the first metric.
The wireless device from the previous description that uses the timestamp to decide whether to use the shared scanning information. This allows the device to prioritize more recent and potentially more accurate information when selecting an access point.
11. The STA of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the STA to process additional shared scanning information received from a plurality of additional STA in response to the probe request.
The wireless device from the initial description that processes shared scanning information received from multiple other wireless devices in response to its initial probe request. This allows the device to aggregate information from multiple sources to improve its network selection.
12. The STA of claim 11 , wherein the additional shared scanning information includes respective metrics determined by each of the plurality of additional STAs, and wherein execution of the instructions further causes the STA to: selectively employ the additional shared scanning information based, at least in part, on the respective metrics determined by each of the plurality of additional STAs.
The wireless device from the initial description receives scan data from multiple devices, each with its own metric. The device selectively uses the shared scanning information based on the metrics from the other devices, determining the most relevant data to use from the available devices.
13. The STA of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the STA to determine a second metric indicating respective distances between the other STA and each of the one or more APs.
The wireless device from the initial description is further configured to determine the distance between the other wireless device sharing scanning information and the various access points that the other device has detected. This provides information about signal strength and proximity relative to the sharing device.
14. The STA of claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions to broadcast the probe request causes the STA to transmit the probe request as part of a scanning process that includes receiving at least one of a probe response or a beacon from an AP.
The wireless device from the initial description broadcasts a request as part of a larger scanning process that also involves receiving either a probe response directly from an access point or a beacon signal. These signals allow the device to learn about available networks in the area.
15. The STA of claim 14 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the STA to terminate the scanning process based, at least in part, on at least one of the first metric or the second metric.
The wireless device from the initial description stops its own network scanning process early, based on either the timestamp or the distance metric. This saves power and time if the device receives sufficiently useful shared scanning information from other devices.
16. The STA of claim 15 , wherein the scanning process is terminated if at least one of the first metric meets a first threshold or the second metric meets a second threshold.
The wireless device from the initial network scanning description where the device stops scanning early if the timestamp from another device is below a certain threshold OR if the distance metric indicates that the other device is close enough to a desired access point. This fine-tunes the conditions for early scan termination.
17. A wireless station (STA) communications device for sharing scanning information, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the STA to: scan one or more wireless channels to identify available networks; and receive a probe request from another STA, wherein the probe request is configured to trigger a probe response from an access point (AP); and transmit scanning information to the other STA in response to the probe request, wherein the scanning information includes information obtained, during the scan, for at least one of the available networks and a first metric indicating a time at which the information was obtained by the STA.
A wireless device (STA) that shares its scanning information. It scans wireless channels to identify networks and, upon receiving a request from another STA (which would normally trigger a probe response from an AP), transmits its stored scanning information. This information includes details about the networks it found and a timestamp indicating when the scan was performed.
18. The STA of claim 17 , wherein the scanning information further includes a second metric indicating a distance between the STA and an AP of the at least one of the available networks.
The wireless device from the previous description also includes a distance between itself and any access points that were detected during scanning in the shared scanning information. This metric allows the receiving device to estimate the signal strength and quality from a specific access point at its location.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 29, 2014
March 28, 2017
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